The Need of Alcohol Licensing

Personals, businesses and establishments who wish to sell or supply alcohol or alcohol related products within the country are required to have a licence or any other form of permission from a licensing authority which is most commonly a local council. The Home Office administers the commandments and policies directing this area. Basically a licence is provided to ensure that the licensable activities are conducted maintaining the standards and laws.

Licensable Activities explained…

Activities conducted in a premise that requires an Alcohol Licence are as follows:

• Retail Sale or supply of alcohol: It includes the sale of alcoholic products inside the premises or supply to a third vender.
• Regulated Entertainment: An activity that takes place in front of viewers whether in public or in a premise, with the aim of profit is termed as regulated entertainment. It may include sporting events, exhibition of a film, presentation of a play or live music, performing dance or playing recorded music, a boxing or wrestling even and any other form of entertainment.
• Late Night Refreshment: It relates to the activity of serving food and beverages for the public for consuming after 11pm and before 5am either on or off the premises.

The Different types of licence and licensee are…

An Alcohol Licence is an obligation for all individuals and organizations who intend to be in the retail sale of alcohol on a regular basis. Depending upon the type of organization and retail sale of alcohol, different licences are as follows:

• Premises Licence: The premises licence is to be obtained by all the businesses and firms that wish to sell alcohol within their premise, and also supply alcohol to other vendors on a permanent basis.
• Personal Licence: An individual who desire to sell or supply alcohol must have personal licence. He may also have the privilege to administer the sale of alcohol.
• Club Premise Certificate: If a club for instance a working men or rugby clubs desire to sell or supply alcoholic products then they require a club premises certificate.
• Temporary Event Notice: The selling and supplying of alcohol on an impermanent basis requires a temporary event notice (TEN). It is basically an application that the event organizer provides to the local council.

Cost of Licence…

NDRV also known as Non-Domestic Rateable Value affects the processing fee of a licence for the premises. In order to check licence fee for a premise, one can check for the rateable value at the Valuation Office Agency Website. Band A is allocated to the premises that do not have a rateable value. A supplementary fee is required to be paid by the owner for the events that may involve more than 5000 people. It is also required where the premises are entirely intended to sell alcohol.

Along with the application fee, an annual fee is also to be paid to the committee to wrap up the current expenses of administration and enforcement. It implies the cost of the authorities and the police personals which may stopover the premise at the time of the event.